Trigger Point Massage

Sunday, 28 March 2010 16:22
Roxanne

Trigger points come from waste in the body that accumulate around nerve clusters which forms knots or nodules located in the skeletal muscles that when touched or pressured, produce tenderness, twitching and jumping. These responses are due to what is call 'hyperirritability' of the trigger point.

There are two basic types of trigger points latent and active. Compression of a trigger point may produce pain locally and do not refer pain to other areas of the body this type of trigger point is known as Latent trigger points. Latent trigger points are believed to be one of the causes of stiff joints and limited range of motion. When a trigger point is compressed and cause muscular pain and refer pain to other areas of the body this is known as an Active trigger point.

When a local twitch is experienced this is different from a muscle spasm. A muscle spasm refers to the entire muscle contracting where the local twitch refers to the entire muscle but only involves a small twitch no contraction.

Trigger points have many causes. Common causes of trigger points are trauma, poor posture, injury from a accident or fall, increased muscle tension, muscle shortening, tingling feelings, numbness, sharp stabbing pains, and can sometimes lead to nausea and disturbances in equilibrium

After recieving trigger point therapy patients dealing with chronic pain have reported vast improvement in their conditions. However, benefits of this therapy extend beyond pain relief. These benefits include: